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milesandmiles's review
1.0
Her mother is written as if we're supposed to believe she's caring, which is awful because at no point does she provide genuine emotional support. She doesn't value her daughter's incredibly successful career nor does she recognize the harassment at any point. Instead the mom pushes the self-serving advice that the main character needs to work on forgiveness. I kept yelling at the book that the mc needed to stop listening to mom and find a competent trauma therapist.
I really wish she could have found one genuinely supportive friend connected to neither her mother nor work on all of those long runs around town to make this a slightly healthier story. The bf provides a couple moments of support, but also trauma dumps on her and pressures her into breaking her boundaries because apparently he's incapable of managing his relationship with his parents. No one really listens or holds space for her. She ends up telling her trauma only to build rapport with someone her harassed and nearly killed her.
This book says that giving empathy and forgiveness to others is more important than expecting respect and empathy for yourself and your experiences. Let people walk all over you or harm you! Forgiving them is good for you!
Also, 4 out of 4 Center books I've read have featured romances where at least one character is at work. Can we all agree that romance in a workplace is so much more likely to be problematic and really shouldn't be a consistent theme???
Graphic: Sexism and Bullying
Moderate: Stalking, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fatphobia, Rape, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Sexual harassment
nikmahie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Very easy written. Couldn’t lay it down.
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual assault, Stalking, Terminal illness, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Abandonment, Sexism, and Rape
Moderate: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Addiction
Minor: Pregnancy and Suicide attempt
rebeccarudisill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
readwithria's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! Cassie’s personal growth is incredible, and the relationships that she builds are so compelling. I loved reading about the firehouse and how she weaseled her way into the hearts of the brotherhood. I also really loved the epilogue, and seeing how she created a community for herself.
That being said, the romance was definitely the weakest part of the book for me. I don’t think we spent enough page time with Owen to make the depth of her feelings for him feel earned. We don’t even learn his first name until 50% of the way through the book. I completely believe all of the interactions they have, but there are so many that we don’t see and it made it hard for me to believe that they were deeply in love.
I think if I had gone into this book not expecting it to be a romance, I would have enjoyed it a bit more. It’s still a book that I would definitely recommend! 4 stars.
Graphic: Medical content, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Blood, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Violence, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt
courtneyarmiller's review
3.75
Moderate: Stalking and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Rape
bookrecsbyjess's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Addiction, Cursing, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Stalking, Cancer, Sexual content, Violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Blood
sierraechobravo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Terminal illness
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Vomit